Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune

Steelhead Stitches By: Georgia Elam, Placed at CDFW Arcata

A program of the California Conservation Corps, WSP is one of the most productive programs for future employment in natural resources. WSP is administered by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor and sponsored by the Corporation for National

and Community Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

TRIBUTARY TRIBUNE Stories and Art by Members of the California Conservation Corps Watershed Stewards Program, in partnership with AmeriCorps

Year 25, District A

Volume 25, Issue 3

Cross stitch of a Steelhead Trout/Rainbow Trout done by Member Georgia Elam on a 14 count aida fabric using DMC embroidery floss.

Many people are surprised to hear that Rainbow Trout and Steelhead are the same species of fish, but its

true! Rainbow trout are the resident form of Oncorhynchus mykiss, meaning they reside in freshwater

throughout their lives. Alternatively, Steelhead are ocean migrating, or anadromous. O .mykiss also has

the ability to spawn multiple times throughout its life unlike other true salmon that die after spawning

once.

I chose this particular pattern/image because salmonids have always been an important part of my life,

even as a child. I began fishing for trout and chinook at age 3 with my dad and volunteering at local

hatcheries when I was 14. I have also always been into crafty and creative things, like cross stitch. I started

cross stitching around 10 years old with my mom who is an incredible seamstress. I figured a piece like

this would be a perfect culmination of two incredibly influential parts of my life.

CDFW Arcata Member Georgia Elam seining at the South Jacoby Creek Ponds. Photo credit: Ali Singh

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 2

Sacred Spring Chinook By: Nathan McCanne, Placed at USFS Orleans

There are five different species of salmon found in North American waters. They are: chinook, coho,

chum, sockeye, and pink.1 The Chinook Salmon, also known as the “King” Salmon, has a spring run in the

Klamath Watershed, which has drastically declined. This subspecies has a great significance to local tribes,

the local community, and those who travel to see these fish.

One of the spring run Chinook’s greatest challenge is their loss of habitat. Spring Chinook come in

the early spring, when the water is up higher.2 Sadly, the Klamath is riddled with six dams, the first of them

being Iron Gate Dam which sits 190 miles up from the mouth.3 These dams are blocking the run’s historic

spawning grounds. Thankfully four of them will start coming down in 2020, letting the fish head back into

Oregon and gain access to 300 miles of spawning and rearing habitat.4

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recently petitioned to place this run on the

Endangered Species list.5 Some years the Chinook run can be as low as 80 fish, but is estimated that

around one million fish used to return on good years.3 Placing this run on the endangered species list

would mean that people would not be able to fish for them, which is necessary to letting their numbers

recuperate.

The Karuk, Hoopa, and Yurok tribes have a great connection with these fish. Salmon were and are a

huge food source for many tribes, spring is a time of year where food should be plentiful for them. In the

past, the tribes collaborated by sending runners up river to notify upriver tribes of the salmon’s arrival. The

salmon’s significance is still running strong. Nowadays, there is a relay race that spans most of the water-

shed to celebrate this tradition.

Most of us are hoping to see these sought-after salmon rebound with the dams coming down and with

the protection the listing gives them. People might have to stop fishing for this run for a while, but the ef-

fect should be great for the species. Once the run starts to gain more returning fish each year, then the spe-

cies will become unlisted. This will allow people to fish for them again. More importantly, the tribes will not

lose out on a cultural keystone that they have relied on for centuries.

References 1 United States Geological Service. (n.d.). How many species of salmon are there and how large can they get? Retrieved from https://

www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-many-species-salmon-are-there-and-how-large-can-they-get?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products

2 Salmon River Restoration Council. (n.d.). Spring Chinook. Retrieved from http://www.srrc.org/programs/fisheries.php 3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2013). Description of PacifiCorp’s Klamath Hydroelectric Project Facilities Within the Klamath Hydroelectric

Project. Retrieved from https://www.fws.gov/yreka/HydroProjectDescription.html 4 California Trout. (n.d.). Klamath Dam Removal. Retrieved from https://caltrout.org/our-work/steelhead-salmon/klamath-dam-removal/ 5 California Department of Fish and Wildlife. (2019). Commission Accepts Listing Petition; Requires Closure of Some Recreational Fishing in

Klamath basin. Retrieved from https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2019/02/07/commission-accepts-listing-petition-requires-closure-of-some-recreational-fishing-in-klamath-basin/

USFS Orleans Member Nathan McCanne during a spawner survey on Camp Creek. Photo credit: Maya Williams

Steelhead Stitches ….. Page 1

Sacred Spring Chinook ….. Page 2

Fern Canyon: A Dino-mite Natural Resource ….. Page 3

Tiny Gems of Life ….. Page 4

Out Here on the Rivers: Important Places and Histories of the Lower Salmon and Klamath Rivers ….. Page 5

“Shasta Rotary Screw Trap” ….. Page 6

Bridge to Nowhere ….. Page 7

River of Change ….. Page 8

The Green Sturgeon ….. Page 9

Riparian Berries of Humboldt County ….. Page 10

Riparian Berries of Humboldt County Cont. ….. Page 11

A Brief History of Anthropogenic Management of the Klamath River ….. Page 12

Alumni Spotlight Interview Page ….. 13 & 14

Answers to Crossword ….. Page 15

Take a Swim With the Members of District A

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 3

Fern Canyon: A Dino-mite Natural Resource By: Zoe Varner, Placed at Redwood National and State Parks

Adiantum jordanii California maidenhair fern

© 2006 Steve Matson

Blechnum spicant Deer fern

© 2007 Dr. Mark S. Brunell

Polypodium californicum California polypody

Polypodium glycyrrhiza Licorice fern

Polystichum munitum

Sword fern

© 2018 Cynthia Powell

©2015 James Gonsman

© 2008 Keir Morse

RNSP Member Zoe Varner taking discharge measurements on Lost Man Creek. Photo credit: Maya Williams

While serving my WSP term at Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP), I’ve come to appreciate one of my Placement Site’s many gems, the famed Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. It takes

only seconds for it to become apparent why Stephen Spielberg chose Fern Canyon as a shooting location for Jurassic Park II: A Lost World, because it is simultaneously a capsule of dinosaur-reminiscent wonder-ment, and a thriving native plant community. With expansive green walls that are up to 80 feet high and

wooly top to bottom with ferns, Fern Canyon is nothing short of breathtaking. There are five species of ferns in the misty microclimate, and while aesthetically pleasing, they also contribute to the health of the

watershed through breaking raindrop impact, which stabilizes the canyon walls and reduces erosion. Since so many of the streams in RNSP have high concentrations of sediment due to logging of the area

before it was protected, these ferns play a vital role in protecting the Park.

Here’s a field guide to the ferns of this mist-ical place (photos by CalFlora.org)

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 4

Tiny Gems of Life By: Holly Garber, Placed at CDFW Yreka

CDFW Yreka Member Holly Garber on the Shasta rotary screw trap. Photo credit: Emily Bork

EGGS Hidden away in the cool, dark shadows,

Under a freshwater blanket of loose rocks and gravel, Tiny gems no bigger than a pea,

Pulse with life, waiting to break free. These cream orange pearls peering back at you, with two black eyes,

Remain masked within rocky crevices unnoticed, so danger passes them by. ALEVIN

Ready to emerge from underneath, Storm-cloud darts trailing pink yolk balloons, carry their sac from beneath.

Fear, however, prevents them from roaming too far away. Instead, they instinctively cling to the sanctuary of the rocky bed to stay.

Awaiting their chance so eager and curious, Not knowing what lurking predators and dangers to expect on a path so mysterious.

FRY While safe, these tiny steel streaks further develop.

Their pinkish yolk sac disappears and becomes enveloped. Tiny aquatic insects become a meal

As they grow stronger and prepare for what obstacles their journey will reveal. Now, braver than before,

They leave their home and cautiously move downstream to explore. SMOLTS

Going with the flow and seeing where life takes them, Silver glimmers now blackened with stripes are transforming into a prized gem.

Continuing their journey into a swirl of salt and freshwater habitats, Soon, they will embark into the ocean ready to adapt.

Along the way, their importance will be noticed. The health of their habitat and water quality could be at its lowest

Their precious survival depends on how their story unfolds. ADULTS

Feasting themselves in the murky blue expanse, These majestic fishes’ lives are still subject to chance.

Shimmering silver and speckled with black spots, Their odds of survival depend on if they are caught.

Should they make it through the gauntlet of predators, fishing hooks and nets, They may then complete their journey back home to a place they won’t soon forget .

SPAWNERS Upon their homecoming, instinct leads them back to their native stream.

Pushing past the forceful currents or dam barriers can seem extreme. No matter the threats or energy cost,

The mothers’ beaten down tail digs out a gravel mound that will reassure her she hasn’t lost. Reproduction is the salmons’ driving motivation.

This redd filled with eggs will leave behind gems of life to become the next generation.

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 5

Out Here on the Rivers: Important Places and Histories of the Lower Salmon and Klamath Rivers

By: Maya Williams, Placed at USFS Orleans

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 6CDFW Yreka Member Emily Bork working on the Shasta rotary screw trap.

Photo credit: Holly Garber

“Shasta Rotary Screw Trap” By: Emily Bork, Placed at CDFW Yreka

*To the tune of “Hotel California”*

On a stretch of the Shasta, cold wind in my hair

Smell of river water, rising up through the air Down below in the screw trap, I saw a shimmering fin

Put on my waders and my PFD We had to count all these fish

There we were on the screw trap I heard the heron call

And I was thinking to myself "This could be a Chinook or a Coho"

Then we picked up our buckets and sat down on the edge There were salmon down in the water

I thought I heard them say

Welcome to the Shasta Rotary Screw Trap Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)

Such a lively space Plenty of fish at the Shasta Rotary Screw Trap

This time of year (This time of year) You can find them here

The river is definitely twisting, there are lots of bends

We got a lot of rocky, rocky spots, fish call friends How they dance in the eddy, sweet April rain

Some swim to escape us, some swim to the trap

So I called up my crew mate "Please bring me a net."

They said, "We haven't had this many fish here since twenty fifteen." And still those salmon are swimming from upstream

Emerged out of the gravel and their tiny eggs Just to hear them say

Welcome to the Shasta Rotary Screw Trap

Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place) Such a lively space

We’re counting it up at the Shasta Rotary Screw Trap What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)

Bring your counting eyes

500 fry in the cooler The water orange with dye

And they said "We are all bright orange now, please release us back" And upstream in the release box

The dyed fry are set free They swim away with their little fins

But they just can't miss the trap

Last thing we have to do Is process all of the smolts

We had to measure their fork lengths and clip their fins properly "Take scales," said my crew mate

“This is a healthy Chinook” We can leave, we are done counting fish

But we will be back tomorrow!"

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 7

Bridge to Nowhere By: Desiree Ottillio, Placed at Redwood National and State Parks

Watercolor of the Little Lost Man Creek gauging station painted by Member Desiree Ottillio.

RNSP Member Desiree Ottillio measuring stream discharge at Lost Man Creek. Photo credit: Zoe Varner

““I chose to paint this spot specifically because of I chose to paint this spot specifically because of I chose to paint this spot specifically because of its seclusion and beauty. I have always loved how its seclusion and beauty. I have always loved how

the structure of the bridge at Little Lost Man the structure of the bridge at Little Lost Man Creek fits seamlessly into the natural beauty of Creek fits seamlessly into the natural beauty of

the stream and redwoods.Creek fits seamlessly into the natural beauty of

the stream and redwoods.the stream and redwoods.” Creek fits seamlessly into the natural beauty of Creek fits seamlessly into the natural beauty of Creek fits seamlessly into the natural beauty of

the stream and redwoods.the stream and redwoods.” ”

- - Desiree OttillioDesiree Ottillio

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 8YTEP Member Kaitlyn Woolling stopping to enjoy the Klamath.

Photo credit: Haymar Lim

River of Change By: Kaitlyn Woolling, Placed at YTEP

Take a trip on the Klamath,

And you’ll see . . .

The high-desert, the mountains,

And redwood trees.

The flat farms in the north,

Wetlands ravaged and filled with earth,

Replaced with cattle on new-formed land,

To satiate this country’s growing demand.

Travel down to the mountains,

I promise we’re going down, not up,

Going past the dams to the growing river,

Where the water isn’t backed up.

The Shasta fuels the water,

Making it colder, not hotter,

Then the Scott and Salmon Rivers

Are also great givers.

Saeiad Valley, Happy Camp,

Somes Bar, Orleans,

Klamath to Weitchpec,

Where the Trinity runs into the scene.

One of the few places

Where the indigenous races

Didn’t get fully replaced

Or out-paced.

They may have kept some of their land,

But history hasn’t given them a helping hand.

Yurok, Hoopa, Karuk, Modoc, and more, you see,

Have been resisting being erased by “His-story”.

Not only have people gone through change,

Mother has brought about a natural exchange.

With the fluvial shape changing forevermore,

Hastened by the Flood of ’64.

Some things will wane,

While others will remain.

The Salmon will continue to make their run,

As the condor returns and flies to the sun.

In this beautiful range,

Where life may be deranged,

One thing is arranged-

The Klamath is a river of change.

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 9

The Green Sturgeon By: Brian Wagenaar, Placed at Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation

While serving in WSP, Members focus the bulk of their collective efforts on salmon and steelhead conserva-

tion and education. I would like to highlight perhaps a less glamorous but in my opinion equally awesome

fish, the green sturgeon. In the northern hemisphere, there are 27 different species of sturgeon, but only two

species reside on the west coast, the green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) and the white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus).

Biologically speaking, sturgeon are most similar to paddlefishes and reedfishes, who share their class Chon-

dostei. Unusual characteristics like their cartilage skeletons, external bony plates, and lips designed for

sucking up food in lieu of teeth are a marvel of evolutionary biology. They oftentimes get compared to

sharks, but are actually a highly specialized and unique descendant of ancestral Chondosteans.

Green Sturgeon have an anadromous life cycle much like salmonids, but theirs unfolds over a much longer

time period. Whereas salmonids typically mature and spawn in 3 or 4 years, green sturgeon do not achieve

maturity until the ripe age of 15, and can live to see 70. Green sturgeon can grow to 7 feet in length and

weigh 350 lbs. Unlike Pacific salmon, sturgeon spawn multiple times, venturing back to their natal streams

every 3-5 years.

Similar to their salmonid cousins, green sturgeon begin their lives in the gravel. They then spend 1-4 years of

their life in freshwater as juveniles, while similarly-aged salmon return to spawn and die. After this period,

they brave life out in the ocean for the vast share of their adult lives, although estuaries are critical habitats

for many green sturgeon in the summer and fall. However, when the time is right, the green sturgeon thrust

their massive bodies upstream for their triumphant return.

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Fishes/Sturgeon

TDN Member Brian Wagenaar on the Eel River during a spawner survey. Photo credit: Eli Baginski

Sturgeon have lived in North America for roughly two-hundred million years, but

their numbers have suffered in the last century due to human activity. Harvest of

adults has taken a toll, especially given their long life cycles and multiple spawn-

ing runs. Thankfully, regulations prohibiting harvest are now in effect. However,

threats such as the destruction of spawning and rearing habitat, water diversions

and altered flows, barriers to passage, invasive species, and poaching still remain. If

we are to ensure the continued survival of this magnificent, dinosaur-like fish, we

must take aggressive conservation actions in the same vein as those championed

for salmonids.

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 10

Riparian Berries of Humboldt County By: Ali Singh, Placed at CDFW Arcata

Slow down, and pick the berries. Spending day after day in the same watershed, and being witness to the most subtle changes of the seasons

is a very special and inevitable reward of field work. As sunnier days become more frequent in Humboldt

County and temperatures begin to rise, the undeniable shift into spring can be tasted in the air. I feel so fortu-

nate to work closely with freshwater ecosystems and encounter the abundance of species attracted to the

richly nutrient and moist soil that surround them. It has become an exciting addition to my day to see what

new bud will reveal itself to me as I make my way down a creek for a survey. I have always had an affinity for

wild edible plants, especially berries. However, seeing that it is not berry season quite yet in Humboldt County,

I have become interested in the other edible and medicinal uses of newly sprouting flora found within our lo-

cal watersheds. The young shoots of both salmonberry and thimbleberry, which once peeled, make a great

hiking snack!

As with any edible wild

species you should be ab-

solutely certain you have

properly identified the

plant before consump-

tion. And of course, never

over harvest, leave ample

fruit for wildlife, reseeding

and the plants’ longevity.

On the next page is a sim-

plified naturalist’s guide

to edible berries within

the watersheds of Hum-

boldt County.

Try out your plant iden-

tification skills with the

Riparian Berries of Hum-

boldt County crossword

puzzle and then take your

knowledge outside! All of

these herbs and shrubs

can be found from the

headwaters to

river mouths of

our local water-

sheds, encour-

aging bank sta-

bility and

providing wild-

life habitat for

many species.

CDFW Arcata Member Ali Singh on Jacoby Creek tagging juvenile coho. Photo credit: Georgia Elam

Down 1. Bell shaped flowers, finely serrat-ed evergreen leaves, dark blue fruit 4. Deciduous and opposite leaves, tubular flowers produce pairs of bitter and toxic fruit 6. Magenta flowers followed by bright orange to red aggregate fruit, prickly stems, common in old growth redwood forests 7. Bell shaped flowers, deciduous leaves with smooth margins, pink fruit 8. Bell shaped flowers produce a fleshy capsule, leathery evergreen leaves

Across 2. Woody shrub, produces white flowers pollinated by flies, bares clusters of dark purple fruit well known for medicinal properties 3. Invasive species, stiff angular stems with large rigid prickles, bramble forming 5. Evergreen, compound leaflets of three, spreads by stolons in the sand, white flowers produce red accessory fruit 9. Glossy and sharply serrated leaves, clusters of yellow flowers, produces true berries, fruit is blue with dusted appearance 10. Jammy sweet aggregate fruit, large pillowy leaves, no prickles 11. Low-growing, slender round stems covered with prickles, produces dark blue aggregate fruit

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 11A snapshot of ripe Huckleberries.

Photo credit: Ali Singh

Common name and Latin name

Fruit Type & Color

Evergreen or Deciduous

Prickles or No Prickles on Stem

Edible Parts Optimal Time to harvest berries

Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis

Aggregate drupe; orange to pink

Deciduous Prickles - Fruit & Flowers - Young shoots, peeled (raw or cooked)

May to Aug

Black huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum

Berry; dark blue

Evergreen No Prickles -Fruit

Late July-Nov

Red huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium

Berry; pink Deciduous No Prickles -Fruit July-Sept

Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus

Aggregate drupe; red

Deciduous No Prickles - Fruit & Flowers - Young shoots, peeled (raw or cooked)

June-July

Salal Gaultheria shallon

Fleshy cap-sule; blue

Evergreen No Prickles -Fruit Aug-Sept

Beach strawberry Fragaria chiloensis

Accessory fruit; red

Evergreen No Prickles -Fruit & Flowers June-July

Pacific blackberry Rubus ursinus

Aggregate drupe; dark blue

Semi-Evergreen

Prickles - Fruit & Flowers - Young shoots, peeled (raw or cooked)

Aug-Nov

Himalayan blackberry Rubus armeniacus

Aggregate drupe; dark blue

Semi-Evergreen

Prickles -Fruit & Flowers Aug-Nov

Black elderberry Sambucus nigra

Berry; dark purple

Deciduous No Prickles -Fruit, only when fully ripened and cooked

Late July- Sept

Oregon Grape (Tall) Mahonia aquifolium

Berry; dusted blue

Evergreen No Prickles -Fruit Sept-mid Oct

So Far This Term, District A Members Have….

• Recruited 550 Community Volunteers for WAP’s!

• Planted a total of 700 native plants along

salmonid bearing streams!

• Taught the entire WOW! Curriculum to 287 students!!

Riparian Berries of Humboldt County Cont.

By: Ali Singh, Placed at CDFW Arcata

District A Members at orientation.. Photo credit: Zia Schatz

Graphic credit: http://positivedoodles.tumblr.com/post/143484180336/drawing-of-a-purple-fish-with-green-fins

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 12

A Brief History of Anthropogenic Management of the Klamath River By: Haymar Lim, Placed at YTEP

In 2002, the federal administration’s prioritization of farmers led to an in-creased allocation of Klamath River water to farms upriver resulting in the largest fish kill in the Western United States, bringing national attention to the mismanage-ment of the Klamath. Data taken by Yurok and State scientists contributed to feder-al reports that marked a turning point in the oversight of the river. The data from the river has been largely the same across its monitored history: low fish counts and im-paired water quality, however, the resultant environmental policy is much more ho-listic. This policy outcome is not only the result of increased understanding of fish and water science, but critically also the result of the enfranchisement of the people whose vested interest in the health of the Klamath River and its fish is unwavering. The Yurok Tribe has imposed commercial fishing regulations on its own members and blame for declining salmon runs has shifted away from tribal fishermen and towards the larger set of problems affecting salmonids across the ocean and water-shed. The fishermen and State officials that once violently opposed Tribal people now fight for dam removal alongside them. It has taken an ecological disaster to shift the paradigm, but the united efforts working towards restoration inspire hope in the recovery of the Klamath.

References 1 Becker, Jo, and Barton Gellman. “Leaving No Tracks.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 27 June 2007, voices.washingtonpost.com/

cheney/chapters/leaving_no_tracks/. 2 Danovic, Tove. “In California, Native American Tribes Gained Fishing Rights. Are There Fish?” New Food Economy, 12 Sept. 2018, new-

foodeconomy.org/yurok-tribe-klamath-river-salmon-fish-wars/. 3 Guillen, George. “Klamath River Fish Die-Off September 2002.” USFWS, 7 Nov. 2003, www.fws.gov/arcata/fisheries/reports/technical/

Klamath_River_Dieoff_Mortality_Report_AFWO_01_03.pdf. 4 Snyder, John O. “Fish Bulletin No. 34. Salmon of the Klamath River California. I. The Salmon and the Fishery of Klamath River. II. A Report

on the 1930 Catch of King Salmon in Klamath River.” EScholarship, University of California, Stanford University, 20 June 2006, escholarship.org/

uc/item/6bx937pf. 5 Zobel, Jim. “Department of Fish and Game Celebrates 130 Years of Serving California.” California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1999,

www.wildlife.ca.gov/Publications/history.

The story of anthropogenic oversight over the Klamath River as a natural resource is largely a trag-ic one. One of the most historically productive salmon rivers in the United States has been diminished to the point of restoration being the only way forward. There is, however, a silver lining in that the policy heading into the future is one informed by mistakes of the past, forged by an unlikely alliance of people once at odds with each other.

In pre-colonial times, the Klamath River was fished primarily by first nations, ancestors of the

modern Yurok, Hoopa, Shasta, Klamath and Karuk Tribes. Use of the river increased with the advent of European settlers and increased further with the Gold Rush. Records regarding the fish in the Klamath are largely anecdotal until the early 1900s, when State monitoring and dedicated regulation of the Kla-math began, largely as a response to declining fisheries across the State of California. The perspective of Tribal peoples was mostly ignored as state and federal policy decisions led to the irrigation of the Kla-math Basin and the erection of several dams along the length of the Klamath. In 1978, after reports from federal and state fish biologists indicating low salmon runs, federal and state authorities began enforcing a moratorium on salmon fishing on the Klamath, banning any salmon fishing on specific parts of the riv-er. Many tribal people continued to fish, as they had been doing since times immemorial, claiming the regulations unfairly targeted Indian fishing as offshore fishing continued unrestricted. There were in-stances of violence as law enforcement, armed with clubs, confiscated nets and arrested tribal fisher-men. Many blamed Yurok and Hoopa fishermen for the declining salmon runs, donning bumper stickers that read, “Can an Indian, Save a Salmon.” In 1979, the tribal fishing rights conflicts were taken all the way up to the Supreme Court, where they were reaffirmed.

YTEP Member Haymar Lim posing by the Klamath River. Photo credit: Kaitlyn Woolling

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 13

What was your WSP member experience like?

It was really a delight for me. As my first experience working in the natural sci-ences after college, it was immensely satisfying getting out there and doing

work. I always felt (and still do feel) very fortunate to be working in a field that

allowed me to explore up and down wa-tersheds in the most beautiful and re-mote areas of Northern California. My

experience with WSP definitely changed my life because it showed me a path to a

really enjoyable career.

Was there one experience that was especially memorable? Why?

There are quite a few great memories from my time in WSP, but in general any time I was on a spawner survey and it

was a big spawner day was incredible. Getting to see why we do the work we do is so satisfying. Some of those days out on Indian Creek were just crazy with fish! I suppose I should also mention the days on the Salt River Restora-tion Project where we were trudging through mud and

eelgrass, trying to seine out all the fish before dewatering. Never been so muddy and smelly in my life!

I am a fish habitat specialist with the California Conservation Corps at the Fortuna center. I am in charge of de-veloping fisheries restoration projects for the CCC, which includes designing the projects, acquiring funding, and assisting the CCC crews with imple-mentation of the projects. There isn’t really a typical day for me, and things vary quite a bit between seasons. Dur-ing the winter months I am either out walking creeks and designing in-stream habitat structures with project partners and my WSP members, or we are doing revegetation work. Once spring and summer come around, I am setting up contracts, purchasing materials, and training crews for restoration work. Summer and fall are where we are busiest, actually getting in the streams and installing struc-tures for salmon habitat.

Alumni Spotlight Interview By: Trista Dowdy, Placed at WSP Fortuna

Brian Starks served in WSP for two years (Year 19 & 20). He spent his first term of service placed at CDFW– Fortuna NCWIC, where he was Mentored by Erik Helgoth. He spent his second term of service

placed at CDFW Fortuna CWPAP , where he was Mentored by Dave Kajtaniak.

Brian Starks and Kalyn Bocast participating in Wilderness First Aid and CPR Training. Photo credit: Courtesy of Brian Starks

Brian Starks on a spawner survey at Anderson Creek, during his term with CWPAP.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Brian Starks

Brian Starks inputting Willow Stakes on Redwood Creek. Photo credit: WSP archive

What are your title and responsibilities in your current job? What is involved in a typical day?

Watershed Stewards Program—Tributary Tribune 14

What’s your favorite part of your job now?

I really enjoy being with the Corps-members and helping them with implementation of our instream

projects. First, I love doing the work. It is a lot of fun handling the

big drills, saws, and grip-hoists. Second, the Corpsmembers always

have such great questions, and I enjoy teaching on the job, so it

gives a great opportunity for some good back and forth learning on

the project.

How did WSP help prepare you for the work you are currently doing?

The most important thing WSP did for me was get me a foot in the door with fisher-ies work. It is a competitive field, especial-

ly here on the north coast, so having al-most 2 years of WSP work really helped

me make and solidify connections in the field. The sites where I was placed gave

me plenty of time in the field also, which gave me some familiarity to north coast streams, and the Eel River in particular.

That familiarity has served me well in de-veloping projects and sharing expertise

with others.

What advice would you give current WSP Members? • Keep at it. It can take awhile to find that big break or great op-

portunity, but if you continue to do good work, people will notice, and that reputation you develop will lead you where you want to

go.

• Don’t sell yourself short. You probably have more expertise than you give yourself credit for. The thing with knowledge is that the

more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.

• If you want to go to grad school, use your placement site to de-velop project ideas. One of the most important thing about grad school is having passion for your project, so if you can find some-

thing through your work that is interesting and doable, use it!

• Be patient. This will help keep your stress level down (super im-portant!) and develop good relationships with friends and

coworkers.

• Apply to any and all jobs you want, even if you don’t feel qualified (I have never felt fully qualified for jobs I have applied for). If it

looks like it will be chal-lenging, then it is probably the right next step for you.

• Focus on working well

with people, and they will want to work with you. This makes things easier for you

in so many ways.

• Try to see problems and issues from different

perspectives, even though it can be challenging.

This will allow you to un-derstand people much better, leading to more

mutually beneficial solutions. Brian Starks at his WAP on Redwood Creek.

Photo credit: WSP archive

Alumni Spotlight Interview Cont. By: Trista Dowdy, Placed at WSP Fortuna

Brian Starks during a WOW! Lesson. Photo credit: WSP archive

Brian Starks during a habitat inventory survey on the North Fork Ten Mile River.

Photo credit: Toni Longley

Watershed Stewards Program — Tributary Tribune 15

Become a WSP Member! Learn more about the program and find our application at: ccc.ca.gov/watershed-stewards-program/

About the Watershed Stewards Program

Since 1994, the Watershed Stewards Program (WSP) has been

engaged in comprehensive, community-based, watershed res-

toration and education throughout coastal California.

WSP was created in 1994 by California Department of Fish and

Wildlife (CDFW) biologists, educators, and the California Con-

servation Corps to fill critical gaps in scientific data collection,

in-stream restoration, and watershed education. In collabora-

tion with landowners, tribal communities, teachers, commu-

nity members, nonprofit organizations, and government agen-

cies, WSP works to revitalize watersheds that contain endan-

gered and threatened salmonid species (Chinook Salmon, Co-

ho Salmon, and Steelhead Trout) by using state-of-the-art data

collection and watershed restoration techniques. WSP also

engages members in education, outreach, and volunteer re-

cruitment efforts to increase the capacity of partner organiza-

tions. WSP currently has Members working from the Oregon

border to the Santa Monica Mountains.

Contact Us WSP Region I Office 1455 Sandy Prairie Ct, Suite C Fortuna, CA 95540 (707) 725-8601 WSP Region II Office PO Box 1380 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 (805) 542-8461 wsp.info@ccc.ca.gov Find out more about the program on our website: ccc.ca.gov/watershed-stewards-program/

Our Mission The Watershed Stewards Program’s

(WSP) mission is to conserve,

restore, and enhance anadromous

watersheds for future generations

by linking education with high

quality scientific practices.

WSP Staff Program Manager: Zia Schatz Region I Program Coordinator: Greg Poulton Region II Program Coordinator: Jody Weseman Office Manager: Robert Sataua

Credits Editor: Trista Dowdy, District A Team Leader

This material is based upon work supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under Grant No. 18ACHY25-C148. Opinions or points of view expressed in this document are those of the

authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of, or a position that is endorsed by, CNCS or CaliforniaVolunteers.